"Our excess of egotism!

We all have it.

It is a commonplace to say

man is as over-sexed

as a cageful of monkeys,

but sex is only one manifestation

of his stupendous egotism.

In every respect

he is insanely selfcentred —

beyond any biological need.

No animal, not even a dog,

has the acute self-consciousness,

the incessant, sore,

personal jealousy of a human being.

Fear is linked to this —

there is no clear boundary here —

and so is the hoarding instinct.

The love of property

for its own sake

comes straight out of fear.

This terrified, immature thing

wants to be safe, invincibly safe,

and so,

by the most natural transition,

fear develops into

the craving for possessions

and the craving for power.

From the escape defensive

to the aggressive defensive is a step.

He not only fears other beings,

he hates them, he flies at them.

He fights needlessly.

He is cruel. He loves to conquer.

He loves to persecute… . Man!"

(H.G. Wells - Star Begotten)

(various artists)